Lineage. Organized as 78 Aero Squadron on 28 Feb 1918. Redesignated as Squadron A, Taliaferro Field, TX, on 23 Jul 1918. Demobilized on 15 Nov 1918. Reconstituted, and consolidated (25 Apr 1933) with 78 Observation Squadron, which was constituted on 18 Oct 1927. Redesignated as 78 Pursuit Squadron on 8 May 1929. Activated on 1 Apr 1931. Inactivated on 1 Sep 1937. Redesignated as 78 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 22 Dec 1939. Activated on 1 Feb 1940. Redesignated as: 78 Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942; 78 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 15 Oct 1946. Redesignated as 78 Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 Sep 1952. Activated on 1 Nov 1952. Redesignated as: 78 Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 1 Apr 1954; 78 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 8 Jul 1958. Inactivated on 1 May 1992. Redesignated as 78 Fighter Squadron on 22 Dec 1993. Activated on 1 Jan 1994. Inactivated on 30 Jun 2003. Redesignated as 78 Reconnaissance Squadron on 19 Apr 2006. Activated on 19 May 2006. Redesignated as 78 Attack Squadron on 1 Jul 2010.
Assignments. Unkn, 28 Feb-15 Nov 1918. 20 Pursuit Group (attached to 6 Composite Group), 1 Apr 1931; 3 Attack Wing (attached to 6 Composite Group), 15 Jun 1932; 16 Pursuit Group, 1 Dec 1932-1 Sep 1937. 18 Pursuit (later, 18 Fighter) Group, 1 Feb 1940; 15 Fighter Group, 16 Mar 1943-15 Oct 1946. 81 Fighter-Interceptor (later, 81 Fighter-Bomber) Group, 1 Nov 1952 (attached to 81 Fighter-Interceptor Wing, c. 22 Apr 1954-7 Feb 1955); 81 Fighter-Bomber (later, 81 Tactical Fighter) Wing, 8 Feb 1955-1 May 1992. 20 Operations Group, 1 Jan 1994-30 Jun 2003. Tenth Air Force, 19 May 2006; 926 Group, 17 Aug 2007-.
Stations. Waco, TX, 28 Feb 1918; Taliaferro Field, TX, 28 Feb-15 Nov 1918. France Field, Canal Zone, 1 Apr 1931; Albrook Field, Canal Zone, 15 Oct 1932-1 Sep 1937. Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii (TH), 1 Feb 1940; Kaneoke, TH, c. 9 Dec 1941; Midway, 23 Jan 1943; Barking Sands, TH, 23 Apr 1943; Haliewa Field, TH, 31 Jul 1943; Stanley Field, TH, 6 Jan 1944; Mokuleia Field, TH, c. 1 Apr 1944; Bellows Field, TH, 8 Jun 1944-24 Jan 1945; South Field, Iwo Jima, 2 Mar 1945; Bellows Field, TH, 25 Nov 1945; Wheeler Field, TH, 9 Feb-15 Oct 1946. RAF Shepherds Grove, England, 1 Nov 1952; RAF Sculthorpe, England, 31 May 1956; RAF Shepherds Grove, England, 3 May 1957; RAF Woodbridge, England, 22 Dec 1958-1 May 1992. Shaw AFB, SC, 1 Jan 1994-30 Jun 2003. Nellis AFB, NV, 19 May 2006; Creech AFB, NV, 1 Jul 2008-.
Commanders. Unkn, 28 Feb-15 Nov 1918. Unkn, 1 Apr 1931-1 Sep 1937. Capt D. W. Jenkins, Feb 1940; Capt A. J. Hanna, 20 Jul 1940; Capt W. P. Fisher, 30 Apr 1941; Maj William R. Clingerman, unkn-3 Jun 1942; Maj Sherwood E. Buckland, 3 Jun 1942; Maj Gordon R. Hyde, 25 Feb 1943; Capt William Southerland, 23 May 1943; Capt Emmett L. Kearney, 10 Dec 1943; Maj James M. Vande Hey, 14 Apr 1944; Maj James B. Tapp, 17 Apr 1945-unkn; Maj John G. Benner, c. 25 Nov 1945; Capt Edward F. Gallup, 29 Dec 1945-unkn. Lt Col Arlie J. Blood, Nov 1952; Maj Robert R. Fredette, 1 Jun 1955; Maj Herbert O. Brennan, 31 Dec 1956-unkn; Lt Col Charles E. Simpson, 30 Jun 1958; Maj Harry K. Barco, c. Jan 1960; Lt Col Ernest D. Stuyvesant, 15 Feb 1961; Maj William H. McMurray, May 1964; Lt Col Robert R. Fredette, Oct 1964; Lt Col William H. McMurray, 9 Jun 1966; Lt Col Frederick C. Kyler, 1 May 1967; Lt Col Edward A. Crimp, Mar 1970; Lt Col Donald T. Lynch, 1 May 1970; Lt Col Robert L. Cass, 1 Feb 1971; Lt Col Gary L. Dryden, 25 Sep 1971 (temporary); Lt Col Billy D. Patton, 4 Oct 1971; Lt Col George M. Decell III, 16 Nov 1972 (temporary), 20 Nov 1972 (permanent); Maj Robert R. Pedigo, 15 Jun 1973 (temporary); Lt Col William C. Hall, 27 Jul 1973; Lt Col William Baechle, 20 Jan 1975; Lt Col Sidney B. Hudson, 16 Jul 1976; Lt Col Michael W. Harris, 14 Jul 1978; Lt Col Glenn A. Profitt II, 7 Jul 1980; Lt Col Jock P. Patterson, 25 Jun 1982; Lt Col Robert O. Smith, 8 Jun 1984; Lt Col Robert S. Hinds, 2 Jun 1986; Lt Col Alvia W. Moore II, 23 Sep 1987; Lt Col Victor J. White, 3 Feb 1989; Lt Col William E. Rial, 29 May 1990; Lt Col James Fortezzo, 7 Oct 1990-15 May 1992. Lt Col Michael T. Cantwell, 1 Jan 1994; Lt Col Charles M. Dodd III, 12 May 1995; Lt Col Jon W. Armstrong, 27 Jun 1996; Lt Col Steven R. F. Searcy, 22 May 1998; Lt Col James R. Cody, 23 Jun 2000; Lt Col Charles Q. Brown Jr., 17 May 2002-30 Jun 2003. Col David L. Culbertson, c. May 2006; Lt Col Ronald J. Stefanik, 17 Apr 2008; Lt Col John E. Meyers, 2 Nov 2009-.
Aircraft. Apparently included JN-4, JN-6, and perhaps S-4, during 1918. Not equipped, 1931-1932; P-12, 1932-1936; not equipped, 1936-1937. P-26, 1940; P-36, 1940-1941; P-40, 1941-1944; P-39, 1942; P-47, 1944-1945; P-51, 1944-1946. F-86, 1952-1955; F-84, 1954-1958; F-101, 1958-1966; F-4, 1965-1979; A-10, 1979-1992. F-16, 1994-2003. MQ-1, 2006-; MQ-9, 2007-.
Operations. Pilot training, 28 Feb-15 Nov 1918. Patrols over the Pacific, Jan 1942-Dec 1944. Combat in Southwest Pacific, 10 Mar-14 Aug 1945. Between Nov 1952 and May 1992, the unit served in England with the United States Air Forces in Europe, training for the defense of Europe during the Cold War, at times serving on nuclear alert. Flew combat patrols in no-fly zone, Southwest Asia in 1991, and performed combat operations over Kosovo, Mar-Jun 1999. Maintained combat-ready Reservists to train and equip combat Air Forces to conduct integrated and expeditionary combat operations as well as training operations in MQ-1 and MQ-9 weapons systems, 2006-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Central Pacific; Air Offensive, Japan; Air Combat, Asiatic-Pacific Theater. Southwest Asia: Ceasefire. Kosovo: Air Campaign.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Japan, 7 Apr 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1961-30 Jun 1963; 1 Jun 1966-31 May 1968; 1 Jul 1968-30 Jun 1970; 1 Jul 1976-30 Jun 1978; 1 Jul 1979-30 Jun 1981; 1 Jul 1981-30 Jun 1983; 1 Jun 1989-31 May 1991; 1 Jun 1991-[1 May 1992]; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1994; 1 Jun 1997-31 May 1999; 24 Mar-10 Jun 1999; 1 Jun 1999-31 May 2001; 27 Aug 2007-26 Aug 2009.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through May 2011.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through May 2011.
Supersedes statement prepared on 27 Apr 2006.
Emblem. Approved on 14 Sep 1933; newest rendition approved on 18 Jan 2008.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.